Lyla Lindsey
Australia is home to a diverse range of birds, but which is the largest bird found naturally in this vast country? The answer is the Southern Cassowary, a flightless bird that can reach up to 2 metres (6 feet 6 inches) in height and weigh up to 85 kg (187 lb). Native to the rainforests of Far North Queensland, these ancient birds are shy and elusive, making them difficult to spot in their natural habitat. With powerful legs, they can run hundreds of metres in seconds and glide effortlessly through the tangled rainforest understory. Cassowaries are considered keystone species due to their crucial role in seed dispersal, helping to propagate hundreds of different fruit species and contributing to forest regeneration.
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What You'll Learn
The emu is the second-largest bird in the world
Emus are found throughout mainland Australia and are an important part of the country's culture and history. They appear on the Australian coat of arms and various coinages, and they have also been featured in Indigenous Australian mythologies. Despite their cultural significance, some local emu populations are listed as endangered due to threats such as egg predation, roadkill, and habitat fragmentation.
Emus are inquisitive birds that are known to approach humans if they notice unexpected movements. They are also quite resilient, as demonstrated in the story of the "emu wars" in 1932, where Australian troops found themselves outmaneuvered by these birds. Emus have short wings that render them unable to fly, but their powerful legs allow them to run extremely fast and cover hundreds of meters in mere seconds.
In addition to their speed, emus have other unique characteristics. Their feathers have a shaggy appearance, with a mixture of brown and grey plumage. The feathers are curled or bent at the ends, and they have a double rachis emerging from a single shaft. The inner plumage insulates the skin, preventing the birds from overheating in the Australian heat.
Overall, the emu is an impressive bird that holds a significant place in Australia's natural and cultural landscape. As the second-largest bird in the world, it is a reminder of the incredible diversity and size of avian species.
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The southern cassowary is the largest bird in New Guinea
The cassowary is a large, flightless bird native to the tropical forests of New Guinea and northeastern Australia. It is part of the ratite group, which also includes the emu, ostriches, rheas, kiwi, and the extinct moas and elephant birds. The southern cassowary is the largest bird in New Guinea, weighing up to 85 kg (187 lb) and reaching up to 190 cm (6 ft 3 in) in height. It is the second-heaviest living bird in the world, after the ostrich.
The southern cassowary is a shy bird that is difficult to spot in the wild. It is found in the lowland rainforests and occasionally in eucalyptus forests or forested swamps. The female southern cassowaries, or "rainforest gardeners", play an important role in propagating hundreds of different species of fruit. They are larger and more brightly coloured than the males, with black feathers, a bright blue head, and two red wattles.
The cassowary is culturally important for some Aboriginal groups and is featured in traditional ceremonies, dances, and Dreamtime narratives. Several indigenous groups are now involved in cassowary conservation, combining traditional ecological knowledge with modern science.
Cassowaries are known to be dangerous and are capable of inflicting serious, even fatal, injuries. They are also known to consume non-natural and non-native foods, including items like coloured building blocks, marbles, and plastic found in urban areas.
Conservation efforts have been put in place to protect the cassowary, including habitat preservation and regulations against illegal hunting. Nonprofit organizations in Australia are working to plant rainforest trees to restore habitats and food sources for these birds.
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The Australian bustard has a wingspan of 2-2.3m
The Australian bustard is one of the country's largest birds, with a wingspan of 2–2.3 m. This large ground-dwelling bird is common in grassland, woodland, and open agricultural country across northern Australia and southern New Guinea. It stands at about one metre (3 ft 3 in) tall, and its wingspan is around twice that length. The Australian bustard is the only species of Ardeotis found in Australia, a genus occurring in the African, Indian, and Australasian regions. This bustard is a large terrestrial bird that resembles an American turkey in its form and behaviour. It is distinguished by its large size, long legs, and slow stride across open plains.
The Australian bustard is a nomadic species, flying to areas where food is plentiful and capable of travelling long distances. They were once widespread and common on the open plains of Australia but became rarer in regions populated by Europeans during the colonisation of Australia and used for farming. The bustard is omnivorous, consuming the fruit or seed of plants, as well as invertebrates such as crickets, grasshoppers, smaller mammals, birds, and reptiles. The species is also known as the plains turkey, and in Central Australia, it is called the bush turkey, especially by Aboriginal people who hunt it. However, this name may also refer to the Australian brushturkey or the orange-footed scrubfowl.
The Australian bustard has a grey and brown plumage with speckled dark markings, a pale neck, and a black crown. The sexes are similar in appearance, but females are smaller in stature, wingspan, and weight than males. The abdomen is white, separated from the light grey neck by a black band of feathers. The wing coverts are patchily coloured with black and white patterning, visible at rest or in flight. The iris is white, and the beak is whitish to brown. The legs are long and yellow to cream-coloured.
The Australian bustard has a 'snooty' appearance, holding its head and neck high. It typically walks slowly and is usually silent, but males roar or boom during courtship displays. When disturbed, it will walk away slowly, still watching, and its flight is strong, with the ends of the wing feathers spread and up-curved. The bustard may be found in small groups or alone. They breed from October to December and, in good rainfall years, may breed more than once a year.
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The brolga is Australia's largest waterbird
The brolga, also known as the Australian crane, is Australia's largest waterbird. It is a member of the Gruiformes order, which includes the crakes, rails, and cranes, and is one of two members of the Gruidae (crane) family in Australia. The brolga is a common, gregarious wetland bird species of tropical and south-eastern Australia and New Guinea. It is a tall, upright bird, standing at a height of 0.7 to 1.4 meters with a wingspan of 1.7 to 2.4 meters. The brolga has a small head, a long beak, a slender neck, and long legs. Its plumage is mainly grey, with black wingtips, and it has an orange-red band on its head.
The brolga is best known for its intricate and ritualised dance, which is similar to that of other cranes. Partners perform an elaborate display of head-bobbing, wing-beating, strutting, and bowing, occasionally stopping to trumpet loudly. Both sexes dance year-round, in pairs or in groups, and the birds often line up opposite each other. With such an impressive mating ritual, it's no surprise that brolgas pair for life. During the breeding season, a pair will return to their breeding site and create a nest in the middle of a wetland, using grasses, sticks, and mud. The nest is built on elevated land or floats on shallow water in marshland, and the female typically lays two eggs.
The brolga is an omnivore, feeding on plant matter, invertebrates, and small vertebrates such as tubers, insects, frogs, and molluscs. They feed and breed in open wetlands, coastal mudflats, and irrigated croplands, occasionally visiting estuaries and mangrove creeks. While not considered migratory, they are partially nomadic, flying to different areas following seasonal rainfall. The brolga is not considered endangered over most of its range, but populations are showing some decline, especially in southern Australia. Local action plans are being implemented to protect this treasured bird.
The brolga has a rich history and cultural significance in Australia. The name "brolga" is derived from the Aboriginal language Gamilaraay, where it is called "burralga." The bird is deeply respected within Aboriginal culture, with many dances and traditional legends associated with it. Indigenous performers often mimic the brolga's impressive dancing technique. The brolga has also appeared on the Queensland coat of arms since 1977 and was formally declared the bird emblem of the state in 1986.
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The wedge-tailed eagle is Australia's largest bird of prey
The wedge-tailed eagle, or "eaglehawk", is Australia's largest bird of prey, with a wingspan of up to 2.84 metres and a length of up to 1.06 metres. It is also found in southern New Guinea and Tasmania. The wedge-tailed eagle is one of the world's most powerful avian predators, and its formidable and dominating nature has earned it the nickname "King of Birds".
The wedge-tailed eagle is a true generalist, hunting a wide range of prey, including birds, reptiles, and mammals. Its diet consists mostly of carrion, such as roadkill and other carcasses, but it also hunts live prey, predominantly rabbits, hares, kangaroos, and wallabies. Wedge-tailed eagles are often seen soaring above reserves and partnership properties, and they prefer to build their nests in the tallest trees in the vicinity, commanding an impressive view of their territory.
Wedge-tailed eagles are monogamous, mating for life. Breeding pairs are territorial and will defend their hunting grounds and large, impressive nests, which can measure up to 2 metres across, 3 metres deep, and weigh more than 400 kilograms. Both sexes share the job of nesting and caring for their young. The female eagle is larger and heavier than the male, weighing between 3.0 and 5.8 kilograms, while the male weighs between 2 and 4 kilograms.
The wedge-tailed eagle is the only bird known to attack hang gliders and paragliders, presumably defending its territory and treating the perceived intruder like another eagle. It is also known to attack and destroy unmanned aerial vehicles used for mining survey operations in Australia. The presence of a wedge-tailed eagle often causes panic among smaller birds, and it is considered a formidable bird of prey.
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Frequently asked questions
The largest bird found naturally in Australia is the Southern Cassowary, which can grow to be 1.8m tall and weigh 70kg.
Cassowaries are found in the deep forests of Queensland, Australia, and in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. They are also known to inhabit protected areas such as Wasur National Park in Merauke and Lorentz National Park, the largest national park in Indonesia.
Cassowaries are known to eat a wide range of non-natural and non-native foods, including items found on picnic blankets, tables, and compost heaps. They also eat the fruits of several hundred rainforest species and play an important role in the ecosystem by dispersing seeds over large distances.
Cassowaries are known to be shy birds, but they have been known to interact with humans in urban areas. They have no natural enemies other than humans, but even then, they are rarely hunted due to their speed, wariness, and self-defence capabilities.
